A study of the shape change of sheep chondrocytes with application of compression to cartilage

In the clinical field, osteoarthritis and most other forms of arthritis are associated with the functional breakdown of articular cartilage. Studies have shown that the mechanical forces exerted on articular cartilage can change its structure and composition, which results in a change in the biomechanical behaviour of the cartilage. Articular cartilage has a unique ultra-structure which provides it with exceptional biomechanical properties. Before the application of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), studies of the internal structure and mechanical behaviour of articular cartilage had to be carried out independently. Articular cartilage is a load-bearing tissue. To gain real understanding of its biomechanical behaviour, the tissue must be studied in relation to its biomechanical function. Based on the use of a fibre-optic laser scanning confocal microscope (FLSCM), which is slightly different from a traditional LSCM, a methodology has been developed to study the morphology of sheep chondrocytes while the articular cartilage is being compressed. With the characteristics of the FLSCM involved in this study, there is a potential to develop a clinical method for the diagnosis of early internal degeneration of articular cartilage.